'I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love' a joyful look at children acting like animals

When I see young animals in nature, I can't help but consider my grandsons. Whether it's baby ducks waddling behind their mama, a fawn nursing from a mother deer, lone calves frolicking in the field, or any other number of wild and often wacky little ones, they remind me of my two favorite wee ones.

Seems author Nancy Tillman thinks of wee ones when looking at animals, too. More accurately, she sees children as animals — in the most loving of ways. At least that's the case with I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love, the latest picture book from the award-winning author and illustrator, which I recently had the good fortune of receiving free for review.

Children across the globe delight in pretending to be animals, and in I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love, the mother of an imaginative child vows to know her child anywhere, regardless of what animal he chooses to be.

In delightful illustrations and magical prose from the mother's point of view, Tillman celebrates a mother's love as her child becomes everything from a rhino to a racoon, a white snowy owl to a blue-footed bobby. She'd know the wild spotted pony by the sound of his feet, she says, the bear cub by his nose, the giraffe by his whiskers.

The sweet story filled with affirmations encourages children to dream big and loud and to have confidence that no matter what they dream, not matter what they become, their mother will always recognize them, always love them.

I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love was inspired by Tillman's own children who, like most children, enjoyed pretending to be various animals when they were young. Here Tillman shares more about how her joyful picture book came to be:

Q & A with Nancy Tillman, courtesy MacMillan Children's Publishing Group

What was the inspiration behind the story of I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love?

I wanted to give children the joy of becoming another creature with the comfort of knowing their parent would always recognize them. And I always love to create interactive pages that allow children to “be” the animal either in action or in sound.

The child in I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love pretends to be many different animals. Why do you think children enjoy pretending to be different people, animals, or things?

It comes naturally to them, probably because pretending is so developmentally helpful. By trying on different personalities, children learn social differences and empathy for others, among many other things. Plus, it’s FUN!

Millions of families across the nation have grown to love your books dearly. What is it about your stories that you think creates such a special connection with your readers — children and parents alike?

I try to give parents words to say what they already feel for their children. Most parents really deeply feel those words, and their children can tell. In their early years, children are little sponges. I love knowing parents are getting those messages of love into their children before many of the world’s other messages make their way in, or before barriers go up.

Your books are heartwarming and very comforting but always close with the phrase “You are loved.” Why?

Quite simply, it’s a message no one gets enough of. It’s the bottom line take-away of all my books, so I always want to end with it.

I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love written and illustrated by Nancy Tillman is available in hardcover, ebook and audio book formats from MacMillan Children's Publishing Group.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book free for review. Opinions and anecdotes are my own.

Still summer: Children's books for fun-filled dog days

The calendar shows several weeks of summer remain, which means there's still time for outdoor and travel fun. These three books from Candlewick Press — which I recently received free for review — offer up plenty to enjoy during those final sun-filled summer days.

Where's Waldo: The Totally Essential Travel Collection by Martin Handford (ages 5-9, Candlewick Press, $14.99 flexi-book) Waldo first hit the road way way back in 1987 and we've been searching for him ever since. This collection of all seven of the classic books in one is a must-have for anyone who spent hours poring over pictures highlighting the hijinks and adventures of the goofy guy donning glasses and a red-and-white striped sweater. From the original Where's Waldo on up through Where's Waldo: The Incredible Paper Chase, Waldo still beckons kids of all ages to search for him as he rambles on his merry and colorful way. Featuring several fold-out pages listing objects and people to find, plus an attached elastic band to mark one's spot in the book, readers will never lose their way in this entertaining book that's a perfect accompaniment on final summer travels by plane, train or automobile.

Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate (ages 8 years and up, Candlewick Press, $15.99 hardcover) No need to travel when adventure awaits in your backyard, and author-illustrator LeBlanc Cate (she of The Magic Rabbit) shows bird-watchers — and bird-watcher wannabes — exactly how to find it. Every single page, including the front and back cover spreads, are filled to the brim with humorous but informative tips and tricks for finding feathered friends. It's a quirky and endlessly entertaining introduction to bird-watching via illustrations portraying various birds chatting about their distinctive characteristics, including color, shape, plumage, and beak and foot types. No need to read this fun guide from front to back — simply open to any page and you'll be smiling and seeking out wrens, woodpeckers, purple gallinules and more. Fun, fun, fun.

Go Out and Play!: Favorite outdoor Games from KaBoom! by KaBoom (ages 5 years and up, Candlewick Press, $11.99 paperback). Speaking of fun, fun, fun in one's backyard, this collection encourages kids to, well, go out and play. KaBoom!, a non-profit "dedicated to saving play for America's children," provides all kids and grownups need to know for getting the ball rolling: how to play, number of players, ages, place space and equipment for each game. The seventy-one games include old favorites like Ghost in the Graveyard, Wall Ball, Capture the Flag, Red Rover and more, plus new ones I had never heard of, such as Snail, Lose the Bacon, and Don't Get Caught with the Cookie. Games are broken into category chapters (Tag Games, Team Games, Sidewalk Games and so forth) plus tips for facilitating play and ways to encourage safe — and fun — play spaces in the community. This book is a must for every Grandma Bag, for sure.

Disclosure: I received these books free for review. Opinions are my own.

More summer reading for kids: Three unique books with unique twists

There's still plenty of time for summer reading fun. Not long ago, I shared summer-themed picture books for little ones. Here are three fun ones for older kids, those who have a hankering for something beyond the picture books.

Each of the following three books — which I recently received free for review — have a unique twist kids (and adults) will appreciate. Take a look:

The Big Bad Wolf Goes on Vacation by Delphine Perret (ages 4 and up, Sterling Publishing, $12.95 hardcover). First up is the perfect story for summer time, especially for kids who get a kick out of comic-style books. Louis and his grandpa enjoy annual vacations at the sea, just the two of them. This year, though, Bernard — a cookie-munching and kooky wolf made famous in Perret's 2006 The Big Bad Wolf and Me — wants to join his pal Louis on the adventure. Silliness ensues as the road trip takes the trio on a memorable trek to the beach. The humorous text and drawings will keep not only the kids giggling at Bernard's antics, but any adults who share the story with their favorite kids, too.

The Remarkable Ronald Reagan: Cowboy and Commander in Chief by Susan Allen, illustrated by Leslie Harrington (for guided reading level P — third and fourth grades, Regnery Publishing, $16.95 hardcover). When my girls were young, I had a set of books called Value Tales, which told the stories of famous folks and enlightened kids of all ages on the values that led the subjects to success and celebrity. This book feels much like those old books (which I so wish I had kept), only with much more heart, soul and solid information. Our 40th president is the subject here, and Allen — who once met "Dutch" in person — shares the story of Ronald Reagan's life, from his humble beginnings as a lifeguard and sportscaster, on up to his years as an actor, then governor, then revered president of the United States. Highlights of the book include the colorful illustrations and solid story line, plus the extensive information (important dates and quotes and more) shared in the back pages. Beyond kiddos, this is a book any history/presidential/Reagan buff will want to add to his or her library.

Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse To Stay Up Late by Laura Overdeck, illustrated by Jim Paillot (ages 3-8, Feiwel and Friends — an imprint of Macmillan, $14.99). I used the word unique in the intro above, and this book is truly the most unique of all. So much so, in fact, that in order to do it justice, this book with a mission to make math a fun part of kids' every day life (including bedtime), I'd like to share with you the trailer for the book instead of trying to explain it in mere words:

One point I'd like to make is that although the age range for Bedtime Math, per the publisher, begins at 3, I believe — as the grandmother to a two-year-old and a five-year-old — that the math problems noted for "wee ones" may be too challenging for wee ones of 3; age 4 or 5 might be a better place to start. That said, though, the ability to tailor the book to a child's age is one of the great things about it. Another is the opportunity to attend Pajama Party events featuring Bedtime Math at various libraries and bookstores across the country. Check the Bedtime Math website to see if there's a pajama party near you.

Disclosure: I received the above books free for review. Opinions are my own.

Grown-up kids still growing up? A book (and review) for you!

I used to tease my daughters when they were in their early 20s that you know you're a grown-up when you make your bed every day. They're all now 30 or pretty close to it, and if that's truly the test of having reached adulthood, my daughters still have lots of growing up to do. Well, all but my youngest, who does indeed make her bed each and every day. The other two? Not so much.

Fortunately for them, bed-making isn't the barometer of being a big girl, er, adult, by any means. There are, though, markers that do signify adult status — and they're far different than what they used to be, according to When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up? by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Fishel.

It used to be — for most baby boomers and older generations — that finishing one's education, moving away from home and getting married meant, viola!, you're an adult. That's not the case with the current generation of kids now ages 18-29. Not just in their minds, but in the minds of their parents, too. And this book, subtitled "Loving and Understanding Your Emerging Adult," is for those parents — and for parents of kids well past that age who can still use the advice and/or find comfort within.

Parents of today's 20-somethings look to different markers to signify a child has reached adulthood, according to a survey conducted by the authors of When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up?. When asked "What is important in reaching adulthood for your child, in your opinion," the top three answers given by parents had nothing to do with finishing school, moving out or marrying. The top three were "Accepting responsibility for him/herself," "Becoming financially independent," and "Making independent decisions." Farther down the list were, of course, the traditional markers, plus "becoming more considerate of others" and "having a child."

So if those traits are the goal with our adult children, why do they seem to be taking so long to get there nowadays? Arnett and Fishel offer plenty of reasons, as well as advice for how parents can remain supportive but allow their children to develop the necessary skills, traits and characteristics that now define in today's culture a fully emerged adult.

Parents of children over the age of 18 may have thought they no longer needed parenting books. Consider this the last one you'll likely need... and you probably really do need it. There's not only advice and insight on the child at this stage, but excellent information on dealing with the empty nest and the effect it can, no will, have on the parents — their marriage (or non-marriage) one's own self-image and plans for the future. And it's all told with a sense of humor. Serious stuff here, but not dry and stuffy by any means.

The information and advice given in When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up? — whether focusing on the child or the parent — is real, accurate, helpful, insightful. How do I know? Because I've been there, done that, could have used that. In my family, the kids are alright. And those alright kids are no longer kids, really, for they have surprisingly, successfully, emerged into adults.

It sure would have been nice, though, if I would have had this book while we all struggled through the "emerging into adulthood" process as a family, to let me know I was doing alright, too. Those years featured many long days, sleepless nights, and plenty of fights, all which made me believe my husband and I had clearly not instilled something or another that we should have in our daughters. This book shows otherwise, made me feel better. I'm pretty sure it'll make parents still in the process of watching their children emerge into adulthood feel better, too.

Unfortunately, though, the book won't teach grown-up kids how to make their beds every day. But as we all know, that's not really what matters anyway. (Just don't tell my daughters.)

When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up? by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Fishel (Workman, $23.95) is available wherever books are sold. Learn more on the Workman Publishing website.

Still on the fence about the book? The following book trailer will surely resonate with — and make chuckle — those who will most appreciate When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up?

Disclosure: I received a free and unsolicited copy of the book for review. Anecdotes and opinions are my own.

Best Loved Recipes: Taste of Home's latest offering

I've been a fan of the Taste of Home brand for quite some time. Take a look at this:

That is my collection of Taste of Home's Quick Cooking magazines, pulled from my cookbook shelves for the photo. The magazine on top? Take a closer look:

  

That is the premiere issue of one of my favorite cooking magazines. I obviously have pert near every issue since that first one in 1998. Yes, I'm a Taste of Home fan.

I recently received free for review Taste of Home's Best Loved Recipes cookbook. Considering the number of Taste of Home recipes I've looked at through the years, I think I'm pretty well qualified to tell you, yes, the 1,485 recipes included in the massive tome are indeed some of the best.

Upon receiving Best Loved Recipes, I spent quite some time going through the 26 chapters, everything from Appetizers to Soups. In between are chapters on anything and everything cooks—from beginning baker to accomplished chef—need to know, need to offer. A few of my favorite chapters: Cooking for One or Two (equally important for my empty nest as well as my little birdies who are now living solo), Mom Made It Best, Mealtime Express, and Grand-Prize Winners.

From the many chapters, I chose a handful of delights to try in preparation for this review. Of the few desserts and main dishes I prepared, these were my favorites...so far (photos and recipes directly from the book):

CANDY BAR APPLE SALAD — In my husband's words, "Any time a candy bar is included in the meal, it's a good meal."

 

TOFFEE POKE CAKE:

SHORTBREAD LEMON BARS:

My friends and family enjoyed those goodies in just the first week or so of having the hardcovered book in my hands. With more than a thousand left to choose from, I have no doubt we'll find many more favorites, many more that will be our very own best-loved recipes.

What I loved about the cookbook: As is the case with most Taste of Home offerings, the recipes are the real deal from real people, with no hoity toity kitchen acrobatics meant to impress judges over taste buds. I love that the cream of the crop—the very best of the best loved recipes—are marked with a Top 100 Recipe icon or included in the Grand-Prize Winners chapter. The quote from each contributor preceding their recipes provides a homey touch. the Mom Made It Best and Our Favorite Contributors' Meals chapters were especially delightful to peruse.

What I didn't love so much: I love that there are so many recipes between the covers, but that makes for a massive cookbook (928 pages!) that doesn't stand up real well on my cookbook holder. There are several full-color and glossy pages of luscious photos of many recipes batched together throughout the book, but I'm a phot fiend and would have loved to see more—though I realize that including more photos would make the book ridiculously large, so I get the reasoning on limiting them.

Taste of Home's Best Loved Recipes hardcover cookbook has a suggested price of $34.99. The cookbook will be available at all major book sellers September 13, but can be ordered now for $24.99 (with free shipping) through the Taste of Home website.